PRE-01 The Road Unexplored: California’s Scenic Rt. 395

PRE 01 — The Road Unexplored: California’s Scenic Rt. 395

September 30-October 4

California is renowned for iconic road trips, most notably the coastal splendor of Highway 1 and historic Route 66. This is your chance to see why Scenic Route 395 should be included in the collection. On this tour you’ll wind along California’s backbone through the Sierra Nevada’s eastern slopes, taking in dramatic landscapes of desert, mountains, thermal springs and lakes. You’ll also get an intriguing perspective into the Golden State’s culture and history, and take in the highest and lowest elevations in the continental United States.

We start in Reno but quickly head across the California state line to spend five days road tripping to Las Vegas. You’ll see Lake Tahoe up close and personal via stand-up paddleboard or boat, and enjoy the evening in Tahoe South. Next we head to Mammoth Lakes and all the history and adventure the area offers, exploring by electro-bike, discovering little known Western heritage at ghost town Bodie and hiking on the otherworldly shores of Mono Lake.

Then it’s on to Lone Pine, where attractions include the Film History Museum and Manzanar National Historic Site, one of ten camps where more than 110,000 Japanese Americans were incarcerated during World War II. Just west of Lone Pine is Mt. Whitney, highest summit in the contiguous United States at 14,505 feet. The trip wraps up with a day and evening in the stark and mesmerizing landscapes of Death Valley National Park, including Badwater Basin, lowest point in North America at 282 feet below sea level. From the park it’s a two-hour drive to Las Vegas.

Activity level: Moderate. The tour includes walks, hikes and water activities.